Good Shepherd

The Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd Sunday
April 26, 2026
Psalm 23

“Good Shepherd”

We have many images of who the Lord Jesus is: Savior, Friend, High Priest, Messiah, Intercessor, Lamb of God, just to name a few. But surely that of Good Shepherd is one that is very near and dear to the hearts of believers. In the midst of an ever-changing world, when everything seems to be spinning out of control and nothing has any permanence, the beloved words of Psalm 23 point us to what is steadfast and eternal. The psalm of the Good Shepherd speaks deeply to us.  It contains some of the most familiar and comforting words in all of Scripture. Little wonder, then, that these words are read when life itself seems out of control, uncertain and fearful. Psalm 23 is a go-to in hospital rooms, at death beds, for funeral services. In these pivotal moments in life, we need the blessed assurance that Christ crucified and risen from the dead is our Good Shepherd. The message for this Good Shepherd Sunday, based on Psalm 23, is entitled “Good Shepherd.” May the Lord’s rich and abundant blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word for Jesus’ sake.

There are, of course, many translations of Psalm 23. The tried and true words of the King James Version (KJV) of Scripture have shaped our English language for more than 400 years. Even though we no longer talk like this in everyday speech, there is something timeless and exalted in this language. Here is a newer translation based on the original Hebrew: The Lord takes care of me as his sheep; I will not be without any good thing. ²He makes a resting-place for me in the green fields: he is my guide by the quiet waters. ³He gives new life to my soul: he is my guide in the ways of righteousness because of his name. ⁴Yes, though I go through the valley of deep shade, I will have no fear of evil; for you are with me, your rod and your support are my comfort. ⁵You make ready a table for me in front of my haters: you put oil on my head; my cup is overflowing. ⁶Truly, blessing and mercy will be with me all the days of my life; and I will have a place in the house of the Lord all my days.

In looking at Psalm 23, it is interesting to note that verses 1-3 all speak in the third person. It begins with “The Lord” in verse one, but then verses two and three all begin with “He.” “He makes me lie down… He leads me beside still waters… He restores my soul… He leads me in paths of righteousness.”  Then a shift takes place beginning with verse four: the psalmist no longer speaks of the Good Shepherd in the third person (He), but in the second person (You): “You are with me… You prepare a table before me… You anoint my head with oil…” Is this significant? In our own faith life, if we are only talking about our Good Shepherd in the third person, that means we are only talking about him, rather than to him. Now, to be sure, in our life and witness as God’s Easter people, we are to talk about our Good Shepherd and all that he has done for us. We are always to be pointing others to the Lord Jesus Christ and his life, death, and resurrection for us and for our salvation. But at some point, our talking about the Lord must give way to talking to the Lord. We must move from the third person of “He,” to the second person of “You.” Without this, our faith runs the risk of becoming detached, disconnected, and distant; it can become impersonal and impassive. God himself has reached down into the muck and mire of our sin-shattered world through the life, death and resurrection of God’s only begotten Son. We do not a distant, impersonal God who stays remote and removed from our messed up lives, but One who has taken on human flesh and blood to become like us in every respect except for sin (Hebrews 2:17; 4:15). As Peter writes in today’s Epistle lesson (1 Peter 2:19-25): “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:24-25). This is Jesus our Good Shepherd who loves us and has laid down his life for us all; who came that we may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10).

Because of all that God in Christ has done for us, “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). When there are difficult times in life; when there is illness, loss, and even tragedy, has our Good Shepherd withdrawn his goodness and mercy from us? That is what it feels like to us, but our feelings are not an accurate indicator of what God feels about us. We often tie outward blessings in this life to how God is disposed toward us, and that can be misleading. It is as a hymn stanza so beautifully expresses it:

            What gain is there is futile weeping,

            In helpless anger and distress?

            If you are in his care and keeping,

            In sorrow, will he love you less?

            For he who took for you a cross

            Will bring you safe through every loss.

            (“If You But Trust in God to Guide You” – Lutheran Book of Worship #453, stanza 2)

Even more than this, that word “follow” in the final verse of Psalm 23 carries with it a lot more meaning than just to follow. The original Hebrew verb (רָדַף, radaph) means to actively pursue; to go after; to chase down. That changes how we think of God’s goodness and mercy, doesn’t it? Far from being just passive, God so wants to bless his beloved children that these gifts of God will actively pursue us and go after us,  just as a shepherd will actively pursue and go after his sheep to care for them. All this from the hand of Jesus our Good Shepherd. In response, what can we say or do to express our deep love and thanks? The final stanza of our opening hymn puts it so well:

            And so through all the length of days

            Thy goodness faileth never;

            Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise

            Within Thy house forever! Amen.

            (“The King of Love My Shepherd Is – Lutheran Service Book #709, stanza 6).